Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

The veranda was coated in a layer of silver-white; the singing and dancing in the hall had just ceased.

The Princess of Danyang walked out from the banquet, heading toward those officials of the Great Wei who had already stood up, the foreign envoys, and Meng Zaishi, who was staring at her with narrowed eyes.

She walked slowly toward them, her gaze falling upon their faces one by one. Perhaps suppressed by the Princess’s imposing manner, they stepped aside one by one, allowing Mu Wanyao to stand in the center, where she could directly face the Emperor on the high seat. Mu Wanyao bowed, her sleeves hanging down, and looked upward: "Father, please allow your daughter to speak. It is not that this daughter is unwilling to marry."

She looked up toward the throne.

In a trance, Mu Wanyao thought of her first political marriage when she was not yet fifteen.

At that time, she could not stand here and fight for herself as she did now. Back then, after the imperial decree was issued, she had only accepted it in a daze. She had sought help from everyone to no avail and was utterly bewildered, not knowing what fate awaited her.

At fourteen or fifteen, she went to the history archives to flip through the records, only to find that the descriptions of the successive princesses sent for political marriages consisted of a mere few strokes—that they would never return to the dynasty for the rest of their lives. Back then, Mu Wanyao thought she would never see her father and mother again. She wept because of this, and later, when she was married to Wuman, she still clung to the identity of a Great Wei envoy tasked with maintaining peace between the two nations...

Thinking of it now, Mu Wanyao could not help but laugh, feeling that she had been truly naive and foolish in the past.

What Wuman needed was never a Great Wei envoy.

What they needed was the noble bloodline of the Great Wei; they needed the fusion with the blood of the Great Wei. They needed Mu Wanyao and her maids and servants to combine the lineage of the Great Wei with the Wuman, bearing children with better bloodlines.

They needed the culture, technology, and knowledge of the Great Wei...

Women were merely tools used to bear children.

Returning to the present, Mu Wanyao faced the Emperor, the ministers, and Meng Zaishi, and said loudly—

"As a Princess of the Great Wei, I should not be someone anyone can marry just because they wish to. Although you all call it a 'political marriage,' for me, this would be a second marriage. I believe that as a Princess, I should have some freedom, right? Should it not be that my heart must be conquered before we speak of marriage?

"Father and all the ministers are discussing my departure here; however, my stay or departure cannot be decided in a single night. I imagine that you ministers and the envoys of various countries will need many days of discussion before you can reach a conclusion, won't you?

"I have heard that in Wuman, a man must also conquer the woman he wishes to marry. Why is it different for a Princess of the Great Wei? No matter what your Wuman traditions are, our Great Wei’s Princesses are not to be married off on a whim. Regarding the matter of an alliance treaty between two nations, I think it is best to be cautious. One cannot force someone into submission.

"The Wuman may dominate the world from horseback and their combat power is naturally strong, but the Great Wei has myriad cavalry and horses, and excellent equipment; we are not cowards, are we?

"Wuman King, what do you say?"

Meng Zaishi gazed at Mu Wanyao.

Her chin was slightly raised, her tone casual yet tinged with a smile. Looking into his eyes, there was seven parts amusement, yet she kept three parts of a hidden blade.

Meng Zaishi replied: "Naturally. An alliance treaty between two nations cannot be negotiated in a day. Today, I merely felt admiration upon seeing Her Highness; there is absolutely no intention of coercion.

"I wish to request the honor of marrying the Princess from His Majesty. But naturally, it must be with the Princess's willing consent."

Seeing Meng Zaishi say this, Mu Wanyao’s stiff spine remained taut. She looked upward, knowing that the final authority rested with the Emperor.

Her father had always hoped she would go to the Wuman and not interfere with the Great Wei.

Although Mu Wanyao knew it might be useless, she really could not help but beg the spirits and pray to her deceased mother in her heart—

Mother, I do not blame you for wanting me to marry into the Wuman. But I am your only remaining daughter; can you help me from the Yellow Springs? Help me plead my case before Father.

I really do not want to go to the Wuman again.

Even if I never marry for the rest of my life, I do not want to go to the Wuman!

I beg you! I beg you!

Perhaps her prayers had an effect, or perhaps the Emperor’s obsession with this was not that deep. The Emperor observed from above for a long time, and after hearing the words of Mu Wanyao and Meng Zaishi, he gave a laugh.

The Emperor said casually: "The envoys are still in the Great Wei. As for these matters, let the Secretariat handle them."

He directly pulled the Crown Prince out of the center of political power, not allowing him to manage this affair. The Crown Prince, sitting behind his table holding a wine goblet, stiffened slightly. He realized that the Emperor knew he did not want Mu Wanyao to go on the political marriage and had directly removed his authority to speak on the matter.

The Crown Prince was silent for a long time, his heart turning cold for an instant, thinking that his father was so heartless toward his own children. But in the end, he said nothing.

The Prince of Qin was somewhat moved, but his uncle, the Minister of Justice, coughed in the seat behind him, pressing him down, knowing that now was not the opportunity to stand out.

Having finally gained a chance to seize power from the Crown Prince, he dared not act because the Emperor’s heart was unfathomable... The Prince of Qin felt so stifled his face turned blue, and he could only drink more wine.

Below, the Secretariat Chief, who had been watching the two sides argue for a long time, heard the Emperor tell the Secretariat to handle it. Minister Liu and the other chancellors stood up from the banquet and helplessly accepted the imperial decree. The four chancellors looked at each other and sighed in unison, knowing this task would not be easy to handle.

On the imperial throne above, facing Mu Wanyao again, the Emperor’s eyes were deep and distant: "This matter between you young children, resolve it yourselves; there is no need to ask me. I am not that kind of close-minded father. Wuman King and the others, try to win the Princess’s heart before speaking of the next step. As I see it, it is quite interesting.

"Just discuss it among yourselves and act accordingly."

Everyone felt an uncontrollable sense of relief.

This Emperor’s mind was deep, and his intentions were difficult to fathom. In the face of imperial power, everything could be weighed and traded. Whether it was any affection, any benefit, or any person he favored or took an interest in.

This Emperor was cold and heartless; his only advantage was perhaps his willingness to delegate power, pushing many government affairs onto the princes and officials to gain experience.

The Emperor was not obsessed with power.

Only then did those below have an opportunity to act.

However, it was precisely because he was not obsessed with power that the officials and princes fought until they were bruised and bloody, creating a strange balance of interests.

Thus, the singing and dancing continued, and the toasts were exchanged. The previous discussion regarding the political marriage felt as fleeting as a collective hallucination—

In the alley where the Danyang Princess’s estate was located, thin snow covered the ground, and the night sky continued to drift with more snow.

Lanterns were placed by the bushes at the corner of the wall, and half of them had already been hung up. Yan Shang and Wei Shu sat shoulder-to-shoulder under the corner of the wall, watching the flying snow in the sky.

Wei Shu’s eyes were as dark as lacquer and as clear as ice and snow: "I also like Her Highness very much."

Yan Shang turned his head to look at him, his gaze warm and moist. He reached out to brush the snow off Wei Shu’s shoulder with a gentle movement.

Wei Shu hugged his knees and reminisced slowly: "My teacher is the Princess’s uncle. Before my teacher was demoted to Lingnan, he once passed through Luoyang. At that time, I had run out from my family, sulking by myself, and met the teacher. The teacher treated me very well. I wanted to go to Lingnan with him, but the teacher sternly refused me. The teacher said he no longer had a future, and I could not ruin my own."

"So, the first time I came to Chang'an, it was relying on the travel expenses the teacher left for me before he left, and I snuck out of my house. My mother is a concubine of the Wei family; at first, I couldn't even manage to secure the status of a son of a concubine. I studied in the Wei family, but they all disliked and pushed me out. When I first arrived in Chang'an to find the Princess, I was also very nervous and afraid."

Wei Shu blushed slightly and lowered his eyelashes.

He whispered: "Because the teacher told me to find the Princess to be married. Although the teacher told me to wait two years, I was afraid the whole way to Chang'an... afraid the Princess would bully or oppress me. If it wasn't for repaying the teacher... I wouldn't want to go to the Princess’s estate."

"Then I saw Her Highness. She indeed... was like what the teacher said, she would not humiliate me. But at first, I was still very afraid, always afraid of when Her Highness would get close to me, afraid she would suddenly propose when we would be married."

Yan Shang sighed, and his hand rested on Wei Shu’s shoulder.

Wei Shu, just arriving in Chang'an, was likely only fourteen years old. A fourteen-year-old boy, and one who did not like to talk or communicate with others, seeing a Princess who was four years older than him—a Princess who was very likely his future wife... Wei Shu truly had it difficult.

Yan Shang said: "Then you still went to find Her Highness often?"

Wei Shu said: "After she asked for my age, her expression was also very strange. But she didn't dislike me; she still took good care of me. She helped me find a place to stay in Chang'an and helped me settle my servants. She went to see it personally, fearing the servants would bully me for being young, fearing I wouldn't live well in Chang'an."

"I don't like to talk much, and after she understood, she easily didn't let people speak to me. Moreover, she smiled every time she saw me, and every time she saw me, she was very happy... Every time she was so happy, I followed along and felt happy too."

"At first, she treated me very carefully, just like an older sister. Her temper is very bad, but at first, she didn't let me know. The first time I bumped into her losing her temper, I was startled, and she turned around to soothe me, afraid I would have trauma, and guaranteed she wouldn't lose her temper at me for no reason. At that time, I felt... this older sister is very good."

Snow fell onto Wei Shu’s eyelashes, melted into water, and made them stick together.

He turned to look at Yan Shang.

Wei Shu said: "Actually, I was long willing to listen to my teacher and become Her Highness’s Prince Consort. I increasingly realize that Her Highness has had it very difficult. If Her Highness needs me, I would naturally stand on Her Highness’s side. But perhaps because I am too young and come from the Luoyang Wei family, although Her Highness and you, Brother Yan the Second, are very close, she does not often let me help her."

"Brother Yan the Second can be Her Highness’s retainer. But I cannot."

Wei Shu leaned his head against the wall and said quietly: "Even if my relationship with my family is not good, as long as my surname is Wei, it is impossible for me to escape the benefits the Wei family provides me. I have received the benefits, so even if I do not help the Wei family, others will take sides on their own."

"Therefore, the Li family wants to marry the Wei family and use me and the Princess."

"I think Her Highness likes me... because she smiles when she sees me and gives me this and that; whatever I ask for, she gives me. It’s just that her liking for me is not the kind between a man and a woman, right?"

Yan Shang said softly: "Juyuan, you are a very good... younger brother. Whether it is to me or to Her Highness. We both like you very much."

Wei Shu was a bit puzzled, wondering what they liked about him? He didn't even talk.

Wei Shu pursed his lips and said: "Because you are both good people, I suppose."

He said with rare defiance: "If someone else told me they liked Her Highness, I would definitely be angry and think that person was not worthy of Her Highness and did not understand her. But if it is you, Brother Yan the Second... I just feel that Brother Yan the Second would do better than I. Someone like Brother Yan the Second can truly open Her Highness’s heart and let her live more happily. If I were a woman, I would also like Brother Yan the Second."

"I have seen the look in Her Highness’s eyes when she looks at Brother Yan the Second. I don't quite understand... but that look is very different."

"Her Highness smiles when she sees me, but when she sees Brother Yan the Second, she blushes."

"It’s just that if Brother Yan the Second wants to be with Her Highness, will you object to me coming to find her often?"

Yan Shang looked at him, shook his head, and said softly: "Juyuan, don't say that. No matter how it goes with Her Highness and me, and no matter whether we can reach a successful conclusion... neither Her Highness nor I will ever dislike you. You can find Her Highness anytime, and you can find me anytime."

He apologized with shame: "It is my fault for being close with Her Highness privately but not telling you. This was my mistake... it is just that I truly didn't know how to tell you. Because our situation is too complex... Her Highness is somewhat unwilling... and I feel ashamed toward you... I..."

He paused for a long time, his brow furrowed, unable to continue several times.

He did not want to mention that Mu Wanyao’s psychology had some issues, nor did he want to say that he could not grasp this degree. He increasingly did not know how to handle Mu Wanyao’s affairs and became increasingly anxious. If he told Wei Shu... perhaps just after speaking on the first day, Mu Wanyao would want to break up with him the next day?

How much like a joke it all was.

Wei Shu could not help but smile: "It is rare to see Brother Yan the Second look so troubled; I feel a bit satisfied. Only Her Highness can leave you in such a dilemma."

He flicked the snow off his body, stood up, and looked back at Yan Shang, who was taller than him and had also stood up. Yan Shang shook his head and smiled at his own helplessness.

Yan Shang said: "Alright, let us brothers not speak of those things. Let us finish hanging these lanterns."

Wei Shu: "Yes."

The palace banquet ended, and Mu Wanyao did not have a single mishap all night, except for that small interlude during the banquet.

Her ability was recognized, and according to the plan, she could have expanded her influence among the court officials of Great Wei... However, if she were to return to Wuman, all of this would be meaningless.

Mu Wanyao’s face was as dark as ink. Fang Tong, Xiarong, and others caught up with Mu Wanyao at the palace courtyard gate, and the group headed toward the direction of the Princess’s carriage.

Someone followed from behind: "Her Highness, Princess!"

That languid voice, filled with amusement and exploration, rubbed against Mu Wanyao’s ears like sand.

Mu Wanyao turned her head abruptly, facing Meng Zaishi, who had put on his mask again. Facing a mask with fangs, Mu Wanyao’s face became even uglier. She threw her hand out, intending to strike him, but her wrist was caught by Meng Zaishi.

Meng Zaishi smiled yet not smiled: "Such a temper?"

Mu Wanyao’s voice was icy: "You have disturbed my life, and you still expect me to speak to you kindly?"

The hatred in her voice could almost not be concealed.

Meng Zaishi was silent for a moment and released her wrist. He took a step back and said: "When you borrowed the hands of my younger brother and my father to kill me, I didn't see you with such an expression. I finally survived, and I need an explanation from you."

Mu Wanyao’s eyes suddenly turned red.

She stepped forward, trying hard to lower her voice. Because she had to lower it, her whole body trembled uncontrollably, forcing her voice to be hoarse, choked with sobs:

"What kind of explanation? For two or three years in Wuman, I was treated like a prostitute by your father and used as a reward for others; does that not count as an explanation? You used my body, and I gave you intelligence; does that not count?"

"Yes, you taught me many things, but did I not repay you! The stimulation you received from me, the hidden pleasure—do you dare say you never had it?"

"And the sacrifices I made for you... are these not explanations?"

"Can I not want to kill you? Do I have no reason? The previous one was your father, the next was your younger brother, and after your brother was slaughtered by you, it was you... In any case, I am that unchanging Wuman Queen, so I cannot resist, I cannot want to leave? If I want to rid myself of you, am I the one who is wrong?"

Every word dripped with blood, every word was like a blade, pressing inch by inch toward Meng Zaishi’s heart.

He suddenly had such a moment where he felt so much pain he could not breathe. He seemed to see the days of the past, seeing the way she cried in his arms...

Now she was not crying, yet she looked at him with red eyes, which made his heart ache even more.

Separated by the mask, Meng Zaishi no longer had the mocking smile he had before; he said quietly: "My father treated you wrongly, but I am not a person like him. You schemed against me and wanted to kill me; I can let it go. Our old grievances from the past will be written off."

"Just as you said in the hall... let me pursue you again. Let us start over from the beginning, alright?"

"Little Princess... come back to Wuman with me."

Mu Wanyao’s lips trembled, and there were many things she wanted to curse, but she knew she could not.

At least at this moment, she could not walk down the path between her and Meng Zaishi until it reached a dead end. If this road reached a dead end now... if Meng Zaishi were to become ruthless and conspire with her father, she would still have to go to Wuman. She could not suddenly push this person into becoming vicious.

Now that Meng Zaishi was discussing things with her, it was only because—only because... he felt she would turn back and cherish the old affections between them.

Mu Wanyao lowered her eyes, did not answer Meng Zaishi’s words, and turned to leave. This time, Meng Zaishi stood quietly on the spot, watching Mu Wanyao’s back, and did not chase after her again.

He knew Mu Wanyao had lived a hard life in Wuman... but now, everything was different.

Now, he was the King.

As long as she came back, as long as she turned back, they would still have a result. After all... they were truly very good together before; he did not believe she had never loved him at all—

Following behind Mu Wanyao, Fang Tong kept his head down the whole way, not daring to look up at Meng Zaishi for fear that the hatred in his expression would reveal his secret.

He still remembered how many of his brothers Wuman had killed... and in the end, after returning from Wuman, only a few people had survived.

Fang Tong was afraid that the moment he looked up, he would not be able to resist wanting to kill for the Princess. Of course, this was not Meng Zaishi’s fault, but... Meng Zaishi was the Wuman King.

On the other side, Xiarong, the maid following the Princess, was bewildered throughout and did not dare to ask.

From the fragments of conversation between the Princess and that Wuman King, she heard as if there were some hidden details; that Wuman King seemed to like her Princess... but why was the Princess angry?

Xiarong did not dare ask and had to follow Mu Wanyao in a daze.

They arrived at the carriage, and Mu Wanyao stood on the ground watching them drive it. When Xiarong was about to mount the horse, she suddenly pulled Xiarong down. Amidst the maid’s exclamation, Mu Wanyao stepped into the stirrup and leaped onto the back of the horse.

With a pull of the reins, the white horse turned its head and instantly rushed toward the direction of the palace gate—

In the chaos over there, one only heard Fang Tong’s loud voice as he hurriedly mounted his horse and chased behind the Princess: "Move aside! Open the gate! It is the Princess of Danyang; do not offend the Princess!"

Fang Tong also shouted: "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Mu Wanyao’s horsemanship was extremely good; she did not wait for Fang Tong at all. She crouched on the back of the horse, her robes flying like snow, the horse’s speed faster and faster, faster and faster—

As a Princess, she had learned to ride horses since she was a child. Later, in Wuman, because the Wuman cavalry was strong, she had also learned excellent horsemanship from Meng Zaishi.

Indeed, as Meng Zaishi said, many things of hers had been taught by him.

However, the more this was so, the more she hated!

The more she hated!—

Heavy snow filled the sky.

Mu Wanyao rode her horse at full gallop, the horse beneath her as fast as lightning.

She left Fang Tong and the others far behind, as if she were not afraid of death, constantly making the horse run faster.

She wanted to kill Meng Zaishi! She must kill Meng Zaishi!

The roaring wind was in her ears, the snow formed ice on her eyelashes; only in this way could Mu Wanyao’s brain be blank.

However, in the blankness, she could not help but think—

Repeating and repeating; a slight carelessness and everything would be in vain.

The shame of remaining in Wuman, the abandoned past.

Her father’s heartlessness, her mother’s manipulation of power, the schemes among the princes.

What wrong did she do to end up with a life like this?

Was there some unforgivable fault she committed that made her life so hard?—

The distance between the Imperial City, the Palace City, and the Princess’s estate was not far.

Back then, Mu Wanyao even used this as an excuse to let Yan Shang live next door and be her neighbor.

Moreover, Mu Wanyao was riding so fast tonight that the fire in her heart had barely subsided when she had already ridden into the ward where the Princess’s estate was located, heading straight for the alley.

At the mouth of the alley stood a person with his back to her, holding a lantern in his hand. A bamboo ladder was leaning against the wall, and a servant was standing on the ladder adjusting a lantern.

Mu Wanyao did not even react to what they were doing; her horse’s speed did not decrease, charging straight toward the alley.

Hearing the extremely fierce sound of hooves, the servant on the bamboo ladder turned his head first, horrified to see an extremely fast horse charging toward this side. Then, the young man standing on the ground holding the lantern turned his head, his sleeves gently spreading as he looked toward the rear—

Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao met each other’s eyes.

Mu Wanyao was stunned, thinking in a daze whether it was an illusion, why he had appeared in her nightmare.

Yan Shang was always clear, gentle, and bright, smiling at her softly, but at this moment, she was riding the horse, rushing forward quickly as she looked at him, and saw panic in his eyes.

She rarely heard Yan Shang disregard his gentlemanly style, shouting loudly: "Yaoyao, the reins—"

Mu Wanyao came to her senses and realized that when she had been lost in thought looking at Yan Shang, the reins had actually slipped from her hands. The horse had run into the alley and was galloping without regard—what kind of danger was this!

Fortunately, Mu Wanyao was already a skilled horsewoman. She only was in a trance for a moment; after coming to her senses, she tightened her legs around the horse’s belly, lowered her body even more, and breathed at the same speed as the horse while clinging to its back. She reached out to touch the reins while on the horse, but could not grasp them at all.

The horse’s hooves slipped in the snow and were suddenly pulled tight by the reins.

The horse fell down with a thud and knelt. The young lady riding the horse, because she was clutching the reins tightly, was thrown into a snowdrift after finally losing her strength.

Mu Wanyao was buried in the snow, coughing as she choked. She had difficulty breathing; the world before her eyes was white, and then the entire white world was pushed aside, and a hand that looked thin, long, and handsome before her eyes stretched out from the outside.

Yan Shang knelt on the ground, dug out the snowdrift, and carried the person buried beneath it out. His whole body was trembling somewhat, and for a moment, he was so horrified he could not speak. His cold hands supported her face, with snow-water hanging on his eyelashes, as he looked down at her.

Mu Wanyao guessed she had made him worry.

She said: "I am sorr—"

She was suddenly tightly embraced by Yan Shang.

Mu Wanyao was held by him in a daze, listening to his breathing, thinking to herself: What did I do right to meet a person like this and gain such a good life?